Mexican Independence Day at The Normanby was a night to remember.

The sixteenth of September marks an important day for all of Mexico. It is not just the day to let our hair down, go to the club, party, drink and have lots of good food. It is also the day to remember the Mexican War of Independence that occurred in the early 1800s.

On the sixteenth of September in 1810, in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, Mexican hero and Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo first uttered the Grito Of Dolores (the direct translation of “grito,” being “shout,” or “pronouncement) and forever marked the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day.

Each year, the president of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace in Mexico City at around eleven at night on the fifteenth of September to mark another year past since the Grito of Dolores and this is immediately followed by the repeated shouts of patriotis including the Mexican heroes’ names and ending with cries of “Viva Mexico!” The Grito was the beginning of Mexico’s journey to independence from Spain, and since then has been celebrated all over Mexico and also in many countries such as Australia.

The Normanby Hotel in Brisbane held a Mexican Independence celebration last Friday, 12th of September, at which many people from all different backgrounds and cultures came together to party and have a good time.

 José Francisco Vallejos, from Chile, was one of the people present at the event to enjoy the music and Mexican food. Resident of Noosa for seven years, 141km from Brisbane city, the pharmacist came to the party after an invitation from a Mexican friend.

"I came here because I have a Mexican friend who invited me to come to this party.  I know a little about Mexican culture. I know about the music because we grew up listening to Mexican music and watching the “Chavo Del Ocho,” ( “The guy of the eighth,” which is a long-running Mexican sitcom). A couple of months ago I was in the United States - Miami, Los Angeles, California- and I got close to many Mexican people and that’s how I came to understand them so well. I always read books or watched movies about people crossing from Mexico to America but we never realized the life that they had. I was talking with all these people and found them very interesting to listen to,” said Jose.

Born in Mexico, Claudia Ramirez, says how long ago she left the country and how nice it was to have had this moment after such a long time.

“I left Mexico when I was 15 years old. After I lived in China for six years I came to Australia four years ago. I just came back from Mexico a couple of weeks ago, I was there for just one week… and it was hard to go there and see the real food … when I came back, I thought, “yes, this is what I remember and what I’m having in Australia is rubbish… hahaha,” said Ramirez who had strong opinions as she ate cochinita pibil (slow cooked pork in a taco), one of the seven foods that was offered on the Mexican menu.

The Bolivian architect, Jaime Moscoso, has lived in Australia for 28 years and is one of the millions of people who love Mexican food. “A friend of mine organized the party and that’s why I am here. I chose Brisbane because they had many jobs for engineers and for architects. I had been in Mexico for an architect conference a long time ago and whilst there I tasted Mexican food and now I love it”, said Moscoso.

The event started at 8 pm and finished at 5am. There was folkloric dancing, lucha libre -wrestling- and a special authentic menu from Mexico.

By: Ana Rodriguez and Julianna Prado